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“We can’t think that far ahead, Lori. We just have to take it step by step, okay?” He says, a scoff leaving my lips as I turn to look out of the tinted window.
“Sure, that’s easy to say while my husband and my own family's lives are on the line.” The words bite even when I don’t mean for them too, but he doesn’t take offense.
Instead, he takes my injured hand and rests it on his lap, caressing my arm gently as I sigh and melt against his side.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. I just…” I sigh, struggling to get the words out.
I just want to be happy. That’s all I want. I’m so tired of all this angry, hostile bullshit, of this war. I just want to live with him and be happy. I want my family safe.
“I love you. I love you and I don’t want anything bad to happen anymore, okay? I just want to be happy, Marco. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. Before I even knew you,” I whisper and he grips my bicep, pulling me into his lap as he nestles his nose into my hair.
“I know, baby. And I will risk my life fighting for that happiness for you, for that peace that we both deserve.” We pull to a stop outside of the mansion, now fully crossed over boundary lines.
I see my brothers outside, their tall figures blurred, but still there nonetheless. When the short outline of my father steps forward.
“Looks like the fight starts now. I hope you’re ready,” I say as I open the car door.
“Baby, I was born ready,” he kisses my shoulder as I step out and walk towards the house, to the unknown fate of my future.
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
Lori
I step out of the car with Marco and three other men behind me. I’m surprised there isn’t an entire team following me up the driveway, but knowing my new husband, there’s probably a few cars on standby. I have a feeling that the man always comes prepared.
I hear guns being drawn as I approach my family and when I look up, I can see that it’s them drawing the guns, my own blood aiming them in my direction as I walk towards them.
“Don’t be afraid, little one. It’s just precaution since you brought the fucking enemy to our own doorstep,” Armone says, my eyes rolling as he speaks.
“You’re a bad shot anyway, Armone, and you know it. One bad aim and your sister's blood is on your hands. How do you feel about that?” I ask, raising my hands as I stop at the end of the driveway, just ten feet away from them.
“Call off the dogs and we’ll put them away, Lori,” Amelio says. My father and Carmelo are both quiet as I feel their stares pressing in on me.
I see Claudio standing there, not a single gun in his hands as he looks on. I’m beginning to wonder if he’s the only other member in this family besides me who doesn’t think with a gun.
“I want to negotiate something first,” I say. My father scoffs at my words.
“The only thing up for negotiation is whether that scum leaves here dead or alive, but I’m really favoring the former,” he hisses.
“Papa, for once, can you please just listen to what I have to say?” I plead with him as I step closer, Marco and his men pausing just several feet behind me.
“Oh, my sweet daughter, I’ve always listened to you, but this…” He cocks his gun, the clicking of it echoing in my ear as time slows.
“There’s no listening with this,” he growls, ready to shoot.
At this moment, I want to freeze. I could let time slow down even more and watch the inevitable unfold before me, but I refuse to let that happen. Now, in this moment and for once in my life, I decide to take action.
“Stop it! If you kill him, you kill one of your own. You’ll violate our most sacred amendments!” I shout, his head tilting at me now.
“How?” He barks, my gaze flicking from the gun to his face and then to my brothers before I speak.
“Because he’s my husband, papa. Because we’re married and now, he’s a part of this family just as much as I am a part of his,” I say. All of my brothers curse except for Claudio.
My father on the other hand is quiet, eerily quiet.
“Please tell me this is just some lie to delay that bastard's death,” he says after a while, staring at me as his gun is still aimed in Marco’s direction.
“No, papa. It’s not a lie. Marco?” I ask, turning to look at him. “Can I have the license please?”
